Move Over Burt's Bees
Last Updated on Saturday, 29 November 2008 13:31 Written by Craig Whitley Saturday, 07 July 2007 09:54
It always amazes me how people are influenced by television advertising. Take the world of "natural apothecary" for example. Many young people living today think that Burt's Bees is the only "natural apothecary" line in America. They see Burt's television ads or slick magazine spreads, and "Bam!" their minds are instantly imprinted as if they had just come off the robot assembly line. Little do they know that this company is now owned by Clorox.
And that's not all they don't know. For most of today's under-40 crowd don't know, that since 1868, J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary has been making environmentally friendly and health conscious products from renewable resources. All the while Watkins has also been avoiding the use of chemicals, animal by-products and parabens. The desire to grow green and maintain a strict purity philosophy has resulted in Watkins expanding its product lines in recent years to include a full line of home and beauty lines.
Watkins, based in the Mississippi River town of Winona, Minnesota, and for many years the one of the largest employers in this part of Minnesota, follows strict recycling and biodegradable packaging programs.
Their Peppermint Rejuvenating Foot Cream will make your heels as soft as they were the day you were born, and their Lemon Cream and Aloe and Green Tea Body Creams are best described as a wonderfully whipped soufflé for your skin.
Watkins has four standard scents that are used across their product line of body oils, cuticle salves, hand creams and lotions. The four scents I refer to are lemon, lavender, aloe & green tea and mango. All are to die for and very popular with young and old alike.
The J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary line doesn't stop with beauty and body products: Watkins also manufacturers a Natural Home Care line that includes lemon laundry detergent, room sprays, furniture polish, liquid hand soaps, dishwashing detergent, bathroom cleaners (for tub and toilet), and (my personal favorite) the Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner. I have replaced the nauseating smell of my Clorox Wipes with the fresh and pleasing smell of my Aloe & Green Tea All-Purpose Wipes.